Football Association of Malawi (FAM) had one of its embarrassing moments on Friday when its Marketing Manager, Dan Tambala got into a fight that eventually marred official launch of Standard Bank Cup at Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre.

Police have confirmed the arrest of Tambala but was quick to point out based on the incident, he will be regarded as a victim and has since placed charges against his assailants.

Tambala got into a fight with Kelvin Singini during a launch of Standard Bank Cup, creating tension at the hotel, which was defused by police rapid response 997 crew after the hotel’s security and FAM officials failed to control the situation.

They were picked to Blantyre Police station where they spent a night in the cooler before given bail on Saturday afternoon.

Tambala in a brawl

But Blantyre police Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Divala said based on the situation and recorded statements, Tambala was the one assaulted.

“Mr. Tambala is regarded as complainant in this case and has since placed charges against Mr. Singini for common assault. Bail was given yesterday (Saturday). Right now police are handling the matter,” said Divala.

Tambala could not answer his phone when contacted.

But one of the people who witnessed the whole incident, told Nyasa Times that the fight started after Tambala had refused to give back Singini’s two smart phones he withheld as surety a week ago.

Singini had given Tambala the phones as surety that he would return a smart phone, Samsung Galaxy he confiscated from Tambala’s ex-girl friend.

“Tambala hired Singini to go and confiscate the smart phone from the girl he had just broken-up with. Singini managed to get the phone. But he had left the phone at his home the time he met Dan, that was at
Grand and Grill bar in chilimba last weekend. Dan got angry and demanded Singini to surrender his clothes, wrist watch and wallet as surety.

“Singini, was forced to hand in his two phones on agreement that the next day he will get them back after returning the Samsung Galaxy. However, since then, Dan has been playing hide and seek, and sometimes he could not answer his phone, forcing Singini to start hunting for him,” disclosed the eye-witness.

The eye-witness who happen to be a close friend of the two, further said: “Singini had even tried to raise the issue with FAM officials who failed to mitigate the matter. Until Friday when Singini and Tambala met at Ryalls Hotel during the cup launch and bitter argument ensued that ended up into a fight”.

The witness revealed that Tambala was badly assaulted and there was a time when G4 Security officers were called in to defuse the fight which had brought business at the hotel to a stand still.

“He was badly beaten that even FAM and hotel officials couldn’t not manage to rescue him. There was at one point where he managed to escape and lock himself in hotel’s toilet until the 997 police officers arrived to end the fight that had raised fears of terror attack in some of the hotel occupants”.